Live coverage: UNLV basketball survives, edging Air Force in OT

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Published Wednesday, March 8, 2023 | 2 a.m.

Updated Wednesday, March 8, 2023 | 3:59 p.m.

UNLV is advancing to the quarterfinals of the Mountain West tournament, and the Scarlet and Gray have E.J. Harkless to thank for it.

Harkless scored a career-high 35 points, including 11 in overtime, to lead UNLV past a scrappy Air Force team in overtime, 78-70.

Harkless, a second-team All-Mountain West selection, scored the first eight points of OT for UNLV, first by nailing a 3-pointer from the wing and then by driving in for an old-fashioned 3-point play. After an Air Force basket, Harkless drove and pulled up for a mid-range jumper to make it 65-62.

Luis Rodriguez then scored on a tip-in to make it a two-possession game with 2:48 to play, and from there it was a matter of making free throws, which UNLV did.

Aside from Harkless, Justin Webster was the only other Scarlet and Gray player to break double figures in scoring (12 points). Luis Rodriguez chipped in eight points and 10 rebounds.

UNLV moves on to face No. 2 seed Boise State in the quarterfinals on Thursday (6 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center). Boise State won both matchups between the teams this season.

UNLV, Air Force heading to overtime in MWC tourney

UNLV's season hangs on a five-minute overtime period, as this game is tied, 57-57, at the end of regulation.

E.J. Harkless had a chance at a long game winner as time expired, but his heave bounced off the backboard.

UNLV has to feel fortunate just to be in this position. Camden Vander Zwaag swished a clutch 3-pointer with a hand in his face to give Air Force a lead 55-54 lead with 2:50 to play. After an empty possession on which UNLV missed three shots, Jake Heidbreder snuck inside for a layup to extend Air Force's advantage to 57-54 with two minutes left.

UNLV trimmed the deficit to one on a transition layup by Harkless with 1:00 to play.

A big defensive stand forced a shot clock violation on Air Force's ensuing possession, and Harkless again went to the basket, this time drawing a foul. He made 1-of-2 free throws to tie the game with 11 seconds left.

Air Force's final possession resulted in a turnover with 3.8 seconds on the clock, but Harkless couldn't get close enough for a legitimate attempt.

Harkless leads all scorers with 24 points, including 18 in the second half. No other UNLV player is in double figures.

UNLV basketball leads Air Force late in second half

Air Force just won't go away.

With 8:35 remaining, UNLV has a 46-41 advantage, but they can't seem to extend the lead much beyond that. The game was tied, 36-36, when UNLV went on a 7-0 run to create some breathing room. E.J. Harkless got it started by making three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt, and Victor Iwuakor and Luis Rodriguez followed with inside buckets.

Air Force answered, however, with a pair of Carter Murphy free throws and a Jake Heidbreder 3 to trim it back to a 2-point deficit.

E.J. Harkless seems to be heating up, which is good news for the Scarlet and Gray. He just swished a pull-up 3 from the top of the key and now has a game-high 17 points.

It's getting to the point of the game where every possession matters; can UNLV protect the lead for eight more minutes against a very determined opponent?

UNLV holding 32-31 second-half lead over Air Force

For a game that has featured very little scoring, UNLV and Air Force just traded runs that flipped the scoreboard twice in the span of a few minutes.

With 15:07 remaining, UNLV is still protecting a 32-31 lead, but Air Force isn't going away. The Falcons opened the half with a 7-0 run to claim a 27-24 advantage, but E.J. Harkless and Justin Webster made consecutive 3-pointers to put UNLV in front again. Harkless then added a mid-range jumper to make it an 8-0 spurt.

Harkless is up to nine points on 3-of-9 shooting. AFA's Jake Heidbreder has 13 on 4-of-11 shooting.

Given the score and the pace, UNLV has to be careful about allowing runs — if they let Air Force create separation again, there might not be enough time left to catch up.

UNLV basketball leads Air Force at half, 24-22

Hold on tight, because for the second time in two weeks Air Force is giving UNLV everything it can handle. At halftime, the Scarlet and Gray have a narrow 24-22 lead.

Most of UNLV's offense has come courtesy of the backcourt, with E.J. Harkless and Jackie Johnson scoring six apiece, but it was hard-earned, as they combined to shoot 4-of-13 from the field. As a team, UNLV is shooting 31.0%.

Senior walk-on Cam Burist did provide a late boost by knocking down a corner 3 in the final minute of the half to give UNLV the lead at the break.

Air Force did not shoot the ball well in the first half (3-of-10 from 3-point range), but the Falcons did have success when they executed their offense and got downhill into the paint. Guard Jake Heidbreder leads all scorers with 10 points.

It's important to note that for the first 20 minutes, the game was contested entirely at Air Force's preferred pace, with each team only getting 30 possessions. With the score being as close as it is, that has to make Kevin Kruger nervous.

UNLV edges ahead of Air Force, 14-12

David Muoka is imposing his will so far, and UNLV has edged ahead of Air Force, 14-12, with 7:31 left in the half.

Muoka powered his way to the rim for two loud dunks to spark an 8-0 run that gave the Scarlet and Gray their first lead, and he's got four points, one rebound and a block. Jackie Johnson has also given the team some instant offense off the bench, scoring six quick points in six minutes.

Air Force is helping the cause by misfiring from long range; so far the Falcons are 1-of-6 from 3-point range and 5-of-18 overall.

Air Force takes early lead over UNLV basketball

Just four minutes into UNLV's play-in matchup, and the game already feels like it is being played at Air Force's kind of pace. With 15:39 remaining in the first half, the Falcons have an early 5-4 lead.

UNLV missed its first five shots from the field until Jordan McCabe splashed a 3-pointer to get the ball rolling. An E.J. Harkless free throw accounted for the other point.

At the other end, Air Force is holding the ball, running down the clock and looking to wear out the defense. And though Kevin Kruger spent all week warning his players about Air Force's offensive cuts, Shane Nowell still got beat backdoor for a layup on the second possession of the game. That's something the Scarlet and Gray will have to clean up as the game goes on.

UNLV basketball opens Mountain West tournament vs. Air Force

UNLV heads into the Mountain West tournament knowing it will take four wins in four days in order to extend the season, and despite a turbulent year on the court, the team is confident in its chances.

The gauntlet begins with a Wednesday play-in matinee (1:30 p.m., Mountain West Network) against an Air Force squad that took UNLV down to the wire less than two weeks ago.

Three keys to watch:

Gilbert out

UNLV just won its biggest game of the season without Keshon Gilbert. Now they’ll have to do it again.

Gilbert was ejected early in Saturday’s season-finale victory at UNR, and on Tuesday the Mountain West added a full game suspension on top of that, meaning the sophomore will have to sit out Wednesday’s MWC tournament opener vs. Air Force.

Gilbert has been a crucial piece for the Scarlet and Gray this season, checking in as the team’s second-leading scorer (11.5 points per game) and leading assist man (3.2 per game). It took a patchwork effort to replace him on Saturday, with Jordan McCabe, Jackie Johnson and even walk-on Cam Burist pitching in.

Head coach Kevin Kruger said he may have to use a similar point-guard-by-committee approach against Air Force — with the season on the line.

“We’re going to be in a situation where we ask guys to maybe do something they haven’t done,” Kruger said. “But at this time of the year, it’s that point. Coaches try to put something together for them and guys try to execute it as best as possible and communicate what they’re seeing out there, so we can all be on the same page and try to problem-solve as the game goes on.”

Kruger said fifth-year senior Jordan McCabe will get the start in Gilbert’s place.

McCabe seemed loose and relaxed when asked about starting the most important game of the year.

“I would assume I’ll probably play at the 20-minute mark of the first half instead of maybe the 16-minute mark,” McCabe joked. “Other than that, nothing changes. I’ll just go out there and have fun and play as hard as I can.”

Air Force matchup

Air Force finished the season just 5-13 in Mountain West play, but they won’t sneak up on UNLV. Kruger’s squad just survived a battle with the Falcons on Feb. 24, scoring four points in the final 12 seconds to steal a win.

After that game, E.J. Harkless — who scored the game-winner on a putback at the buzzer — said it was one the of most physically demanding games he had played in his career.

Kruger wants his team to respond to the physical challenge, but more than that he wants them to be prepared mentally. Air Force’s deliberate style can often lead to rock fights, and UNLV does not want to get dragged into another nail-biter.

“It’s unique,” Kruger said. “What they do is different. Nobody runs their stuff like they do. Nobody cuts as hard as they do. So it’s a different prep just in the sense that nobody passes it like they do and shares it like they do, so you’ve got to be ready.”

Harkless time

If UNLV does find itself in a competitive game, look for Harkless to take over.

Harkless has been the team’s undisputed closer all season, including the Air Force game two weeks ago, when he scored 10 points in the final six minutes. He credited his big men for freeing him up with hard screens, which forced AFA’s defense out of place.

Harkless said once he figured out a plan of attack, he was able to get to the basket for close-range shots.

“Once you create confusion on a switching defense, you can get layups,” Harkless said.

Because Air Force plays at a snail’s pace — the Falcons are bottom 20 in the nation in tempo — it can sometimes lull opponents into stagnation.

When that happens on Wednesday, Kruger wants Harkless to attack.

“We need to see him be as assertive as possible,” Kruger said. “Even going back to the last time we played Air Force, just being more aggressive, consistent, assertive, getting in the paint and making plays. Making things happen.”

What: Mountain West tournament play-in round

Who: No. 7 UNLV (18-12, 7-11 MWC) vs. No. 10 Air Force (14-17, 5-13 MWC)

When: Wednesday, 1:30 p.m. at Thomas & Mack Center

TV: Mountain West Network

UNLV leaders

Scoring: E.J. Harkless — 18.6 points

Rebounding: Luis Rodriguez — 5.6 rebounds

Assists: Keshon Gilbert — 3.2 assists

Air Force leaders

Scoring: Jake Heidbreder — 14.8 points

Rebounding: Rytis Petraitis — 6.1 rebounds

Assists: Ethan Taylor — 3.2 assists

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.